Business support group bids for shop owner buy-in
A new business support group is making a bid for shop owner buy-in to put more promotional focus on Palmerston North’s inner city.
Palmy BID aims to replicate the success of George St and Cuba St’s precinct events, and apply it to the central business district, while also acting as a retail advocate when dealing with Palmerston North City Council.
At an introductory event for the business community at the city library on Wednesday, Palmy BID interim chairman Rob Campbell explained the group would represent the 1200 property and business owners within the council’s new Business Improvement District.
Campbell said it would be the secondlargest such district in New Zealand, behind Auckland’s Heart of the City, and acting collectively instead of in smaller adhoc groups would give business people a powerful voice in shaping the CBD.
Campbell said business owners made it clear on the night, and in other consultations, that their top priorities were effective promotional events to attract more customers, car parking spaces, and crime prevention to ensure the safety for their customers and staff.
This is where Palmy BID’S initial focus would be.
The business improvement district was formally established after CBD ratepayers and businesses voted in favour of it, with a 61 per cent majority, in a council survey in December.
The council has included $250,000 over the first two years in the draft 2021-2031 Long-term Plan for Palmy BID’S budget – paid for with targeted rates from within the new district.
Campbell said just over half of the initial funding would go towards setting up the group to be fully operational by July, with $100,000 set aside for a fund to help draw customers in to CBD businesses.
Clothing company Pork Chop Hill co-founder and CBD property owner Catherine Russ said despite some reservations about the new organisation, she was right behind its goals.
‘‘I’m for anything that makes our city more vibrant and energetic.
‘‘We have a lot going for us in Palmy, we just need to make the most of it.’’
Russ said she just wasn’t sure yet if Palmy BID would add enough to existing efforts, from people such as community event organiser and business owner Shaun Kay, to be worth the extra costs.
She attended the session on Wednesday to hear more from Campbell and discuss her concerns with him directly.
Russ said it was reassuring to see Kay, who hosted the event, was already working with Palmy BID.
Kay’s enthusiasm, drive and commitment had done wonders for Cuba St and George St, with events such as the Little Cuba Carnival and George St street fairs, she said.
Russ hoped Palmy BID would bring equal energy, and greater resources, to bear on doing the same for the whole central city.